CES 2017: Comcast’s Xfinity Home Turns Up Zen’s Smart Thermostat

As part of a plan to enable customers to save energy and manage “greener” homes, Comcast’s Xfinity Home service has struck a partnership and integration agreement with Zen Ecosystems, maker of a new connected thermostat.

Zen’s thermostat is now a “core” device in the Xfinity Home ecosystem and represents another step toward the relaunch of an “EcoSaver” technology/platform that aims to reduce energy usage by optimizing home heating and cooling using real-time weather analytics.

“At Xfinity Home, we are always looking for new ways to delight our customers and add value to our services,” Daniel Herscovici, senior vice president and general manager of Xfinity Home, said in a statement. “We are eager to unveil a new home energy management service soon, fully integrated with Zen Ecosystems, that will redefine what customers expect from their smart home services. When we relaunch EcoSaver in the spring, our customers will be able to transform their smart homes into greener homes, while continuing to help them save money on their monthly energy bills.”

Zen Ecosystems joins a growing list of third-party companies to integrate products with Xfinity Home, a security and home automation service that has more than 500,000 subscribers. Other announced partners include August (smart locks), Chamberlain (garage controllers), Lutron (wireless controllers and dimmers), Nest (thermostats) and Sengled and Jasco (lighting). Comcast also builds its own products for Xfinity Home, including the recently introduced “xCam,” a WiFi-connected, HD indoor/outdoor camera.

Comcast, which expects to announce more partnership this year ,has also relaunched its Works With Xfinity Home portal as the MSO looks to drive more visibility and scale into the program.

Comcast is also in the process of buying a big piece of Icontrol, and has discussed how that acquisition might enable the operator to pursue an additional wholesale/white-label business. Icontrol's customers include Cox Communications, Rogers and Charter Communications. Fierce Cable reported that Comcast is holding meetings at CES this week with Charter and other operators to discuss potential licensing opportunities.